The plea came one day after another woman, Patricia Masten, came forward to claim Albert had bitten her during a sexual advance. Masten described how Albert had also pleaded with her to engage in three-way sex and pranced around a hotel room in Dallas, Texas wearing a garter belt. She said she ripped off his toupee and ran from the room. Given the nature of the testimony, it was of little surprise that Albert sought a quick end to the trial.
Albert received a twelve-month suspended sentence and was ordered to undergo counseling. The agreement specifled that the criminal record would be expunged if Albert did not commit any crimes during the following year.
Albert resigned from his sports-casting job at Madison Square Garden (MSG) and was fired from NBC. One year later, Albert returned to his position at MSG. Dave Checketts, president of Madison Square Garden, announced, ''He has been very, very loyal to the company. Today, we return the favor.''17 As the voice of basketball to many, Albert's escapades brought negative attention to the sport. Clearly the repercussions were short-lived, however, given that he was able to resume his career almost as if nothing happened. Rather than prompt inquiry into violence against women by professional adults in the sport world, Albert's antics simply made him a laughingstock for awhile.
EUGENE ROBINSON SOLICITES PROSTITUTE - DERAILS FALCONS
Just before 9 P.M. the night before the Atlanta Falcons took the field to face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII, Falcons safety Eugene Robinson was arrested for soliciting a prostitute in a notorious Miami neighborhood.18
The self-described Christian had offered $40 to an undercover police officer for oral sex. He was released about two hours later to Falcons general manager Harold Richardson after signing a promise to appear in court within thirty days.
What made the Robinson arrest particularly shocking was that only twelve hours earlier he had been honored by Athletes in Action, a Christian group, with the Bart Starr Award for his exemplary moral character, as recognized by fellow players. Further, as a team leader, he had admonished his teammates to obey the curfew and stay focused on the game. Robinson had a history of charitable work, even winning Man of the Year honors four times in Seattle while he played for the Seahawks, for his work with the Boys and Girls Club and the Union Gospel Mission.
Although Robinson and his teammates initially denied that the arrest was a distraction, there was ample evidence to the contrary. Robinson admitted that he could not sleep after being released. In the game he was badly beaten on an eighty-yard touchdown pass from John Elway to Rod Smith (Denver's longest play of the game), and he missed countless tackles. One Falcons player, demanding anonymity, said, ''Instead of getting mentally ready for the Broncos, we were talking about Eugene. The Broncos beat us, but anyone who says that what happened to Eugene was not a factor is lying.''19 Perhaps making the arrest even more scandalous, another teammate said that Falcons players had been going to the notorious Miami neighborhood all week, but Robinson was the only one unlucky enough to get caught.
Beyond the effect on the team, Robinson was tremendously concerned with his family's welfare-a bit too late, some would suggest. The graduate of Colgate University said, ''Reputation? I can deal with that. The hurt? My wife?
That means much, much more to me. I truly do love my wife. I love her, I love my kids. I'm sorry I had to drag her through that type of deal.''20
The Falcons had entered the game on a roll, having upset the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings on the road. The 34-19 loss to the Broncos sent the Falcons organization into a tailspin. It would win only seven of its next twenty-four games. Falcons coach Dan Reeves had made an inspirational return to the team earlier in the season only weeks after heart surgery. The loss made him the third NFL coach to never win a Super Bowl after making four appearances. Beyond the immediate impact on his family and on his team, the Robinson case highlights how athletes can get caught up in poor decision making as a result of the culture of entitlement that permeates most professionnal, and even collegiate, sports.
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO RECRUITING AND SEX SCANDALS
At the University of Colorado (CU), Lisa Simpson and two other women alleged that several CU football players and recruits gang raped them at Simpson's home during a party in December 2001. Simpson alleged that she and some friends were playing a drinking game at her apartment when approximately sixteen football players and recruits arrived unannounced. The three women filed suits in federal court, contending the university created a hostile environment and used sex to entice recruits. These cases were dismissed. One victim claimed to have lost her soccer scholarship after reporting the incident.
She has since dropped her suit. In another incident, former CU recruiting assistant Nathan Maxcey was accused of hiring women from Best Variety escort service to have sex with recruits while they stayed at the Omni Interlocken Resort. Maxcey claimed the charges he made for the services of three girls between June 2002 and July 2003 were for only himself. An adult-entertainment company in Denver allegedly provided strippers for recruiting parties at CU, as well as at Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and two Texas schools, Rice University and the University of Houston.
Adding to the school's problems, in 2004 former CU football kicker Katie Hnida told Sports Illustrated she was abused, molested, and raped while she was on the team in 1999. Elizabeth Hoffman, president of CU at the time, appointed a special assistant to be ''the eyes and ears'' of the athletic department.
Hoffman also asked the Boulder police to investigate Hnida's claims. Campus based victim's advocates were involved as well.21 Coach Gary Barnett added fuel to the fire with his comments about Hnida. Barnett said, ''Well, it was obvious that Katie was not very good. She was awful, OK? And so, guys, you know what guys do? They respect your ability. I mean, you could be 90 years old, but if you can go out and play, they respect you. Well, Katie was a girl. And not only was she a girl, she was terrible.''22 Barnett was suspended, but not fired for his comments. He later said he made a mistake in making the comments, although to many his apology rang hollow. One day after his suspension was announced, a sixth rape allegation against a football player was made. Barnett claimed he instituted a number of policies to help guide the team, including a 124-page conduct manual. Some players agreed Barnett was a disciplinarian, citing his distribution of wristbands featuring the letters DTRT, for ''Do the right thing.'' One of the allegations was made by a young woman who worked in the athletic department When she told Barnett that a player raped her, he allegedly told her he would ''back his player 100 percent if she took this forward in the criminal process.'' She claims the player raped her in her apartment, where she told him at least ten times she was not interested in having sex with him.23
Other colleges and universities watched the CU case closely. If courts were to determine that CU allowed, even fostered, an environment in which sexual harassment and sexual assault were permitted, the school could be held liable for damages based on Title IX, the federal law requiring gender equity in education programs. Schools are required to take some actions to prevent students from harassment and assault and must take reasonable actions in response once they are given notice of an incident. Katherine Redmond from the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes argued it would be incredible, yet unlikely, if the school were held accountable. ''Coaches run these towns,'' Redmond said.24 The CU charges were not the first scandal for Coach Barnett. When he was at Northwestern, four of his players were caught in a betting scandal. Barnett, however, was not directly implicated. Nor were the allegations the first scandal at CU. In 1998 a female high school student accused a recruit of sexual assault, and the school also has a history of varied NCAA recruiting violations. Ira Chernus, professor of religious studies at CU commented, ''Like every major football school, CU has a big network of 'boosters.' University officials and coaches don't have to arrange or condone special pleasures for recruits. It's all so well organized from outside the university it just runs by itself lik
e a well-oiled machine.''25
A Congressional subcommittee was formed in February 2004 to investigate the allegations of inappropriate recruiting practices and criminal violations. Colorado governor Bill Owens also appointed the state's attorney general, Ken Salazar, as a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations at CU. Owens also recommended that CU's Board of Regents appoint a prosecutor and a victim's advocate to their investigative commission. The Board did add Jean McAllister of the Colorado Department of Human Services domestic abuse assistance program to their panel. The National Organization of Women (NOW) applauded Owens for this recommendation. President Hoffman and CU chancellor Richard L. Byyny also made changes to the football team's recruiting practices, prohibiting recruits from staying with players on their visits to campus and from attending private parties. Recruiting visits were shortened from two days to one, with supervision required from the recruits' parents or a designated coach. The curfew for recruits to check in with coaches had been 1:00 A.M., but was changed to 11:00 P.M.
Victim's rights advocates and others were horrifled by some of the statements made by panelists on the regent's team. One member, Ms. Lawrence, told a reporter, ''The question I have for the young ladies is why they are going to parties like this and drinking or taking drugs and putting themselves in a very threatening or serious position.''26 Barnett was fired in 2005, not because of any of the allegations, rather due to an unsatisfactory win-loss record.
KOBE BRYANT ACCUSED OF RAPE-SETTLES CIVIL SUIT
In her accusation against Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant, Katelyn Faber alleged Bryant raped her at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, a Vail, Colorado resort, where she was employed in 2003. She claimed she went to his room and consensually kissed him before he raped her. The Colorado Supreme Court had rejected the prosecutor's appeal of a lower court decision allowing details of Faber's sex life to be introduced into evidence. One piece of evidence that would have been introduced was DNA showing Faber had sex with another man soon after the incident with Bryant. The criminal case was dismissed after jury selection had already begun. District Attorney Mark Hurlbert told Judge Terry Ruckreigle that Faber no longer wished to participate in the trial, but that this was no reflection on her credibility or the factuality of the charges. Bryant made a public statement after the criminal case was dropped. It read,
First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this past year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure. I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colorado.
I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.
I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this case ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado.27
Discussions of rape and rape myths in cases involving athletes often involve a racial element, as athletes in revenue sports are disproportionately black.
While blacks, like any racial group, have diverse opinions about rape, they generally are more likely to doubt allegations against black men given the history of false accusations and horrendous punishments. Numerous polls taken after Bryant was charged with rape indicated racial disparity in assessments of his guilt. Less than 25 percent of blacks surveyed by USA Today thought Bryant was probably or definitely guilty, as compared with over 40 percent of whites who did.
Faber filed a civil suit against Bryant seeking compensation for mental injuries, humiliation, and public scorn she received after the June 2003 encounter. The parties settled for an undisclosed amount. During the lead up to the settlement, Faber received hate mail and death threats. One man, Cedric Augustine, sent seventy profanity-laced death threats to both Faber and the prosecutor. He pleaded guilty in March 2005 to one felony count of making interstate threats and was sentenced to nine months in a federal prison. Augustine had also threatened to blow up the Eagle County (Colorado) courthouse in which the trial was to take place. Two others pleaded guilty to making threats against Faber. John Roche was sentenced to four months in prison and a $1,000 fine, and Patrick Graber was sentenced to three years in prison.
Bryant has continued to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. His popularity waned after the rape accusation and was worsened by public feuds with teammate Shaquille O'Neal, who is generally considered among the most likable players in the league, and the highly respected Phil Jackson, who had coached the Lakers to three NBA titles after coaching the Chicago Bulls to six.
Despite the tremendous amount of media attention to the case as it unfolded, it seems to have had little impact on Bryant's career today. His popularity seemed restored by 2007, as sales of his jerseys would attest. Not only was his jersey the most popular in the United States, but it even outsold Yao Ming's in China.
NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL (MIAMI) COVERS UP SEX CRIME
Northwestern High School in Miami-Dade County has a reputation for success on the gridiron, but also for high dropout rates and low standardized test scores. It is known in South Florida for athletic success above all, and for the tremendous community support that winning garners. Community members say they feel tremendous loyalty to the school and are very protective of it. This culture of protection may be at the root of a scandal involving a star player, sex on the school's bathroom floor, and the ensuing cover-up by school officials. Antwain Easterling, then eighteen years old and a football star, had sex with a fourteen-year-old honor student and band member on the school's bathroom floor on September 16, 2006.28 Despite Easterling's claims the sex was consensual, the act was considered statutory rape based on the girl's age. Two other males were arrested along with Easterling and charged with lewd and lascivious battery.
A third man, Vincent Shannon Jefferson, twenty-four years old, was arrested on similar charges when the young lady said she had sex with him off school grounds. The scandal continued as school officials knew about and actively covered up the crime, allowing Easterling the opportunity to play in several highprofile football games, including the state title game that Northwestern won. At the time of the incident, Easterling had scholarship offers from Florida, Miami, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, as well as several other schools.29 Easterling had a newborn daughter from a different relationship at the time.
School officials heard about the incident in October 2006, when the girl's mother spoke to a guidance counselor and two teachers at the school; the guidance counselor told the school's principal and two assistant principals. Principal Dwight Bernard assured the mother the police would be called, but they were not. On December 5, the girl's mother told Officer David Thompson about the incident and soon after Easterling was charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor. Following Miami-Dade School Board policy, he should have been suspended for at least ten days. He was not, nor was he ever disciplined by the school. Rather, Easterling played football for Northwestern three days after his arrest while out on $7,500 bond, helping to lead the team to the state title. He rushed for 157 yards in the team's 34-14 defeat of Lake Brantley High School.
A grand jury report released in June 2006 documented that at least seventeen school employees knew about the incident. Easterling ha
s since entered a Diversion program for first-time offenders. Providing he completes the program requirements, the felony arrest will be expunged from his record. He began playing football for the University of Southern Mississippi in fall 2007.
While Easterling has moved on to Southern Mississippi, others involved in the incident have not fared as well. The young lady twice attempted suicide and has been institutionalized.30 Principal Bernard was indicted on two charges of third-degree felony official misconduct, although his attorney claims he was an easy scapegoat in a culture that operated like a gang.31 Bernard was fired, along with a number of teachers who also knew of the incident and helped in the cover-up. Athletic director Gregory Killings, who had been with the school since 1983, announced his resignation in July 2007. A grand jury report found that the school district meddled in police investigation of the case, and that superintendent Rudy Crew knew Easterling had been arrested and approved of allowing him to play football. Coach Roland Smith was fired, along with his entire staff, on July 11, 2007. The school had to scramble to find a new coaching staff only weeks before the 2007 season.
In mid July 2007 rumors emerged that Superintendent Crew was considering suspending the entire football team for the 2007 season as a result of the scandal. The district consulted the Florida High School Athletic Association for clarification on the rules and transfer options for players. Crew acknowledged this type of suspension had never occurred before, but said he thought it might be appropriate because ''it sends a strong message to all schools that these things need to be dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.''32
Members of the community were outraged at the suggestion. ''For him to go forward with it is ill-advised,'' said Larry Williams, president of the Northwestern Alumni Association. Williams also commented, ''We won't allow our young people to be hurt by a situation that goes on probably at every high school.''33 In addition to the impact on the football team, the highly ranked band would have no one to play for. Typically, games draw sell-out crowds, which would also impact the revenues produced for both Northwestern and the teams they play. In mid July, the football team was ranked first in the nation in a preview by Rise magazine. As the season approached, Crew changed his mind and allowed the team to play while serving one-year of probation. The team went undefeated, claiming the Florida state title and finishing ranked first in most national polls.
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